Real Estate

When Washington, D.C.-based Madison Marquette took over the leasing and management duties for Granite Run Mall, located in Media, Pa., near Philadelphia, it launched an innovative program for soliciting shopper feedback.

Charlotte, N.C. -- X Team International, an international alliance of retail real estate advisors, said that Charlotte, N.C.-based partner The Chambers Group has completed a lease for the first small-format Burlington Coat Factory store in Charlotte.

Scheduled to open Oct. 1 at Woodlawn Marketplace, the smaller format store will be roughly 48,000 sq. ft. and joins T.J. Maxx and Family Dollar.
 

Leesburg, Va. -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities and Kettler announced that luxury bowling alley and sports grill King Pinz has opened a 6,200-sq.-ft. expansion to its facility at Village at Leesburg, in Leesburg, Va.

The addition features a six-lane luxury bowling suite, plus High Rollers Lounge, a fully enclosed cigar bar and cocktail lounge.

With now 21,564 total sq. ft., King Pinz’ additional space increases the number of bowling lanes to 18.

Oxnard, Calif. -- Centro Properties Group US announced that Dick’s Sporting Goods will open a new 44,166-sq.-ft. store at Esplanade Shopping Center, located in Oxnard, Calif.

Esplanade Shopping Center is owned by Centro Properties, based in New York City.

 

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties,  announced a 6,000-sq.-ft. expansion to The Shoppes at Hamilton Place, a 125,000-sq.-ft. associated center in Chattanooga with existing anchors Ross dress for Less, Marshalls, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

The expansion will locate in the undeveloped parcel in front of the center and will bring new retailers and restaurants to the area including Sweet Peppers Deli, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, and Bath Junkie.   

New York City -- RCS Real Estate Advisors announced that Moe Puri has been promoted to VP from assistant VP.

A member of the RCS Real Estate Advisors team since 2008, Puri’s primary responsibilities included re-negotiating leases on behalf of clients. He has since elevated his expertise and, as a VP, is managing several key client real estate portfolios.

Boynton Beach, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers announced the addition of Publix Super Market as the new anchor of Boynton Lakes Plaza, a 117,000-sq.-ft. neighborhood center in Boynton Beach, Fla. 

Publix is relocating from an undersized 39,000-sq.-ft. store in a nearby center to open a new prototype of 45,600 sq. ft. in late summer 2012.   

The store will occupy a former Winn-Dixie site that was closed along with 29 other locations in July 2010.
 

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. announced that it plans to open its first stores in Vietnam and Guam through its franchise channel. In Vietnam, the first Gap stores will open this October followed by the first Banana Republic store in 2012. The first Gap store will open in Guam in 2012. The company first made its products available to consumers in this region last year through its international online shipping provider.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us Inc. continues to implement its strategy of integrating its Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us units, announcing that it will have opened 21 new stores by the end of 2011. These new stores include 11 "R" Superstores and 10 Side-by-Side locations. As part of an ongoing effort to upgrade the company's portfolio of stores nationwide, the remodeling of 23 existing locations to the Side-by-Side format is also underway and will be completed by the end of the year, the company reported.

New York City -- Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, through his Inmobiliaria Carso SA investment fund, spent $8.8 million to up his stake in Saks, according to Bloomberg. 

Slim, who was Saks’s largest shareholder before the purchases and last acquired the New York-based retailer’s shares in April 2009, raised his stake to 16% from 15.7%, the report said. Slim has made it a practice to add to his investment holdings when the markets slump.